SHARON Tax collector is doing well, treasurer says

The delinquent taxpayers must pay collection fees.
SHARON, Pa. -- City Treasurer Rick Fragle said he is "really pleased" with the success of the city's latest delinquent-tax collector.
Sharon designated Sharp Collections of Sharpsville as the agency to go after delinquent 2000 per capita taxes earlier this year, and Fragle said the company was able to bring in nearly 25 percent of those late payments in just five weeks.
Sharon levies a $15 per capita, or head, tax on people who live in the city. Those with extremely low incomes can be excused from paying the fee.
Fragle said Sharon had $31,210 in delinquent per capita taxes last year, and Sharp, which began collections in late March, has already turned over $7,200 to the city.
Collection fee: The city gets the full amount due but the taxpayer must also pay a collection fee that goes to Sharp.
Fragle said Sharp has done better than the previous collection agency, Berkheimer Associates of Bangor, Pa., along the New Jersey border on the other side of the state.
The fact that Sharp is local gives the company a better chance to connect with city residents who have failed to pay the tax, Fragle said. It also gives delinquents a local place to make that payment, he said.
Berkheimer is still the collection agency of record for all per capita delinquencies before 2000, Fragle said.